author

Today was Fairy Tale Day for Ethan's last day of school before the winter break. He wrote his own fairy tale. Surpirsed he named it "The Brave Little Boy"? Not me!

I noticed on his title page he had edited it (with an eraser). The original title was "Brave Little Ethan". At least he doesn't have any doubts about what's inside him!

slower

"Whenever Christmas begins to burden, it’s a sign that I’ve taken on something of the world and not of Christ.

Christ the Babe comes in Christmas as Christ the Savior comes on the Cross — seeking only our embrace.

What if I laid down efforts and expectations, perfectionism and performance, and simply waited with arms and heart and eyes wide open?

...The slower we take the days of Advent, the more places we find Christ and Christmas — and the Light that warms."

~ Ann Voskamp

merry christmas

silence

December 3 - Celtic Daily Prayer

"It seems strange to say, but what can help modern man find the answers to his own mystery and the mystery of Him in whose image he is created, is silence, solitude - in a word, the desert...If we are always to be available, not only physically, but by empathy, sympathy, friendship, understanding, boundless 'caritas' (means dearness, high price. By extension it may take on the meaning of affection, esteem, love. But that love is the altruistic kind, of charity owards others), we need silence. To be able to give joyous, unflagging hopsitality, not only of house and food, but of mind, heart, body and soul, we need silence.

True silence is the search of any person for God.

True silence is a suspension bridge that a soul in love with God builds across the dark, frightening gullies of its own mind, the strange chasms of temptation, the depth-less precipices of its own fears that impede its way to God.

True silence is the speech of lovers. For only love knows its beauty, completeness, and utter joy.

True silence is a garden enclosed, where alone the soul can meet its God. It is a sealed fountain that He alone can unseal to slake the soul's infinite thirst for him."


Isaiah 58:11 NLT
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

wonderful indeed

“Christ will come to you offering His consolation, if you prepare a fit dwelling for Him in your heart, whose beauty and glory, wherein He takes delight, are all from within. His visits with the inward man are frequent, His communion sweet and full of consolation, His peace great, and His intimacy wonderful indeed.”

~ Thomas A Kempis